Now, that warmth seemed to have dimmed, and Mio couldn’t help but wonder why.

She admired many things about Rophel. His silver-gray hair that shimmered faintly in the light, his playful dark eyes that always seemed to carry a hint of mischief, and the gentle way he patted her head—all of it made her feel valued and cared for. His considerate words and soft demeanor never failed to put her at ease, making her feel secure in his presence. Now, with that ease fading, Mio felt a growing sense of loss and uncertainty.

But now, during their journey on the ship, Rophel seemed distant, as if something was weighing on his mind. This change made Mio’s heart ache, and the joy of the journey was overshadowed by her growing worry for him. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had done something wrong, if perhaps her presence had become a burden to him. The thought left her feeling even more disheartened.

Mio held onto the hope that once they arrived at their destination and met with Yuel, things would return to how they used to be. She missed the warmth Rophel always showed her and wished desperately to see him smile at her again with those bright, mischievous eyes.

“Phew…”

Mio looked down at her fidgeting fingers and let out a sigh.

‘Should I make him some fragrant tea?’

Suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind, and she lifted her head with renewed determination. Rophel had always seemed to enjoy it when she made tea for him. Maybe, just maybe, if she brewed some luxurious, fragrant tea, it might lift his spirits and help soothe whatever was weighing on his mind.

Mio carefully took out the special tea bags she had planned to serve to Yuel once they reached the northern continent. She boiled some water using the kettle in her cabin and let it cool just enough before steeping the tea. The fragrant aroma quickly filled the small room, its comforting scent easing some of her nerves. She decided to add a few cookies she had bought at the dockside market to the tray, hoping the gesture would bring a smile to Rophel’s face.

With the tea and cookies ready, Mio took a deep breath, gathering her courage to approach him.

With a feeling of nervous anticipation, Mio started down the corridor. The luxurious passenger ship carried people from all walks of life, yet Rophel was undoubtedly the highest-ranking individual onboard—though no one else would likely recognize him. He was traveling alone, without the usual presence of knights or guards, preferring to keep the journey discreet. Rophel hadn’t even booked the best first-class cabin, opting instead for a more modest room that suited an average noble, avoiding any unnecessary attention.

Taking a steadying breath, Mio approached his room and gently knocked on the door.

“Rophel! Are you inside?”

There was no response from within.

‘Maybe he went out for some fresh air?’

Of course, Rophel wasn’t obligated to take Mio everywhere with him, and she knew that. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. She quickly shook off the feeling, reminding herself that as a maid, it was improper to harbor such emotions toward her master. She was all too aware that her feelings had crossed the line of that was appropriate.

Just as she was about to turn away, the door suddenly swung open.

Rophel stood there, looking slightly startled to see her. His hair was a bit tousled, and there was a hint of fatigue in his eyes.

“Um… I made some tea…”

Mio began hesitantly, noticing Rophel’s eyebrows knit together. Her voice faltered, her confidence fading as she saw his expression darken.

“Mio…”

Rophel sighed, rubbing his temples as if trying to clear away the exhaustion. His voice came out in an almost weary groan.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done anything without being asked.”

Mio murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes downcast like a dejected deer caught in a moment of helplessness.

“No, it’s not that…”

Rophel mumbled, flustered by her reaction, struggling to find the right words. He opened his mouth to continue, but instead let out a heavy sigh. Lowering his voice, he spoke more gently this time.

“No, it’s not like that. Ugh… Mio, can we talk on the deck for a bit?”

Hearing his request, Mio felt her heart sink.

‘What could Rophel want to discuss?’

A wave of sadness washed over her, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to fire her. If he had decided to, there was nothing to stop him. Her chest tightened at the thought, but she forced herself to remain calm and nodded quietly.

***

For a few minutes, the two stood in silence on the deck, gazing up at the stars. The dark ocean glistened white under the soft moonlight, creating a serene and beautiful night.

Rophel fought to calm his racing heart. For several days he had acted like a fool, trying in vain to ignore the clarity of his feelings. But there was no denying them now, no suppressing what had become impossible to hide. Once he had acknowledged his feelings, there was no going back. Mio’s innocent eyes, once simply endearing, now seemed to hold a seductive, almost captivating allure.

He had tried avoiding her, but it had only made things worse. Rophel finally had to accept what he had been feeling all along. These emotions hadn’t formed overnight; they had slowly grown, becoming so heavy that they weighed on his heart, impossible to shake off.

“Mio.”

Taking a deep breath, Rophel finally found the courage to speak, the weight of his words pressing down on him as he prepared to share what he had been holding back.

Mio’s dark eyes looked up at him, her small, delicate features exuding an undeniable sweetness. Rophel had been with many women, but he had never experienced such deep, intense feelings, as if his heart was being squeezed.

When had Mio grown so much in his heart?

Was it when she prepared a warm meal for him every day? Or perhaps when she smiled so brightly, with that small face, calling out, “Rophel, Rophel,” while tending to the little things in his life? Maybe it was even earlier, when they first met—when she wore a guarded expression, her eyes teary, not wanting to leave Yuel’s side.

He truly couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment when his feelings had deepened.

“I have a dream.”

“…What kind of dream?”

Mio tilted her head, puzzled by Rophel’s sudden words. Even now, her confusion made her look adorably innocent, and Rophel had to clear his throat to stay focused.

“The reason I wanted to turn Seyon into a republic,” Rophel began, “is ultimately to erase the boundaries between nobles and commoners. It’s not something that can be accomplished quickly, but over time, I want every citizen to have the same rights, to be treated equally and with the same dignity as human beings.”

He watched Mio’s reaction carefully, unsure of how she would respond to such an ambitious and deeply personal revelation

“…..”

Mio was left speechless by Rophel’s words. His statement was so radical that at first, she found it hard to believe.

“Uh… but why?”

She finally asked, her voice hesitant. After a moment of silence, she repeated the question, still bewildered. It felt like a silly thing to ask, but she genuinely found it strange. Rophel was one of the most noble figures among the aristocracy, and it was hard to reconcile that with such a dream.

“Why?”

Rophel couldn’t help but laugh at her innocent question, finding her confusion endearing. The sound of his bright laughter filled the air, and Mio felt her cheeks flush slightly, taken off guard by the warmth in his expression. She quickly composed herself, trying not to let her embarrassment show, while Rophel continued to smile at her, his eyes full of an unusual gentleness.

Mio had always been aware of her feelings. She admired Rophel for having such a warm heart. Although he was often teasing and playful, Rophel was a person with a deep and caring spirit.

But Mio had long since let go of those feelings. She was just a humble servant, while Rophel was one of the most respected men in Seyon. Mio knew her place very well.

“Yes, social status is the way it is. Everyone is born with their destiny already decided.”

Mio regained her composure and calmly countered Rophel’s assertion.

“That’s not true, Mio. All people are the same.”

His words pierced deep into Mio’s heart, creating ripples in her thoughts. The idea that all humans were the same—it almost sounded like Rophel was saying that he and Mio stood on equal footing, looking at each other as equals.

‘It was impossible.’

Mio shook her head vigorously in disbelief.

“Why did I ask? Because the person I love is a commoner. I don’t think they’re any less than I am. Of course, at first, that wasn’t the reason I had this dream. But once I realized my feelings, it became clear.”

Mio was a perceptive girl. (Though Rophel didn’t always see her that way.)

With Rophel being this obvious, Mio couldn’t help but understand. The reason why he brought her all the way to the deck to have this conversation.

Rophel’s confused expression every time he looked at Mio over the past few days.

The man who was always kind and gentle… There were even moments when Mio resented him for making her heart flutter for no apparent reason. Now, everything seemed to fall into place.

“Rophel, are you…?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Rophel replied, taking a deep breath. “I think I love you, Mio. No, I do love you.”

For a moment, it felt as if white stars were cascading down behind him, the world narrowing to just the two of them. Mio could only stare at him in a daze, her mind reeling. Rophel’s face turned red as he continued, his voice a mix of nervousness and determination.

“Not immediately, but I’m definitely going to create an equal society. You don’t have to worry about status differences or anything like that. Don’t even think about it. And I’m not asking for an answer right now. I don’t want to pressure you. I just… wanted to express my feelings…”

Mio couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Rophel’s flustered, clumsy behavior, which was such a contrast to his usual confident and brazen demeanor. Even when she tried to cover her mouth, her laughter kept spilling out, leaving Rophel to stop mid-sentence, bewildered.

Eventually, she gave in and laughed openly, letting out a hearty “Hahaha!” She found it amusing how anxious she had been over Rophel’s changed behavior these past few days. Her laughter, clear and bright like rolling beads, mesmerized Rophel, who now simply stared at her in a daze. In that moment, she looked almost ethereal, like a fairy from a myth. He realized he must have been completely smitten.

“…Why are you laughing?”

Rophel asked, rubbing his eyebrow, looking slightly sulky.

“…Because, Rophel, you’re adorable.”

Mio replied, barely managing to suppress her giggles between breaths.

Rophel’s expression twisted into a mixture of confusion and exasperation—’adorable? Who’s calling whom adorable here?’

He couldn’t believe that the confession he had so carefully planned had taken such an unexpected turn.

Still smiling with laughter, Mio tilted her head slightly, causing a few strands of her dark hair to fall out of place. Rophel’s gaze instinctively followed the movement, his mind momentarily distracted.

“Alright.”

“Huh?”

Rophel blinked in confusion, caught off guard.

“I… like you too, Rophel.”

Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke those words, her cheeks flushed a light pink. Mio carefully revealed the feelings she had kept locked away, ones she had never imagined she would share. It took all her courage, and yet, in this moment, it felt like the right thing to do.

Rophel stared at her, slowly digesting her words, his expression going blank in disbelief. It felt as if silver stars surrounded them, holding hands and dancing—an enchanting moment where it seemed like only the two of them existed in the entire world.

“Um… should I… kiss you or something?”

Rophel mumbled absentmindedly, a dazed look on his face.

Mio let out a giggle, unable to contain herself. Seeing the usually smooth-talking Rophel so flustered made the situation even funnier.

But her laughter didn’t last long. Rophel, snapping out of his daze, gently pulled her by the waist, lifting her chin, and kissed her deeply. Their soft lips met, and they exchanged warm breaths as the moonlight bathed them in a serene, glowing embrace, making the moment feel timeless and magical.